Pocketknife



Patented Dec. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POCKETKNIFE Leon R. McNamara, Rochelle, Ill.

Application December 9, 1939, Serial No. 308,442

Claims.

The invention relates to pocketknives and particularly to improvements in pocketknives of the replaceable blade type.

One object of the invention is to provide a pocketknife embodying a novel arrangement for utilizing a safety razor blade as the cutting element.

Another object is to provide a knife of the above character in which a blade holder and handle are pivotally connected in a novel manner such as to facilitate separation of the two and ready removal and replacement of the blade.

A further object is to provide a knife of the above character in which the blade holder is disposed between spaced sides of the handle.

Still another object is to provide a pocketknife of the type indicated which is very low in cost and simple to manufacture, as well as easy and safe to manipulate for blade replacement.

The invention also resides in the novel construction of the pivotal connection between the blade holder and knife handle.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a pocketknife, embodying the invention, and shown respectively in its closed and open positions.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the knife parts showing the mode of disengagement of the cover from the blade holder.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partially in longitudinal section.

The blade holder II is of channel shape and is closed .at its outer end by inwardly bent, abutting lugs I3. The opposite or inner end is, how ever, open so that the blade I0 can be pushed endwise into place in the holder.- To grip the blade and hold it firmly against displacement,

the longitudinal edges or lips I4 of the holder are offset inwardly toward each other, and being made of resilient sheet metal hold the blade l0 effectually against side play. Single edge razor blades of the type shown are commonly provided with a reinforcing strip I5 along their rear edges (Figs. 5 and 6) which provide longitudinal shoulders projecting laterally from the faces of the blade. These shoulders are engaged by the complemental shoulders formed at the bases of the offsets I4, thereby preventing edgewise displacement of the blade. Since the blade holder is quite deep as compared to the blade I0, it supports the blade relatively close to the cutting edge so that in spite of its comparative thinness, the blade will not be subject to twisting or breakage when in ordinary use of the knife.

The handle I2 is also of simple channel shape, being desirably rounded at both ends. Its forward end is closed, as indicated at It (Fig. 3)

' the side walls of the holder II frictionally when Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the knife.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section along the line 66 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of knife embodying the invention and illustrates the mode of disengagement of the cover from the blade holder.

Referring more particularly to the first exemplary construction (Figs. 1 to 6) the improved pocketknife is adapted to utilize a safety razor blade IIJ, preferably of the so-called single edge type, as the cutting element. Such blades usu-. ally have a sufiiciently keen edgexfor ordinary cutting operations long after they are too dull for shaving. Associated with the blade II) are two main parts, namely a blade holder I I and a handle I2, both of which may be economically fashioned as sheet metal stampings so that the whole structure is very simple and low in cost.

the knife is closed (Fig. 1) to retain it in such position. To facilitate opening of the knife, the handle side walls are cut away as indicated at I9.

Of particular importance in the knife disclosed is the pivotal connection between the blade holder and the handle. In general, this connection is such that the blade I'll is firmly held in the holder except when the handle is disconnected from the holder and also such that the pivotal connection can be disengaged and the holder and handle separated only when the holder is swung to a position intermediate its closed and open positions of the knife. Inadvertent disengagement when the knife is in use is thus prevented, 1

In'the instant embodiment the blade holder I I is provided with inner end portions 20 (Fig- 5) rounded at their ends. Alined holes 2| are formed at the centers of these portions and communicate with open ended slots ,22. extending radially and longitudinally of the holder, th'ese slots being of lesser width than the diameter of the holes. A metal block 23 of a shape similar to the portions 20 is inserted between the latter a' diameter only slightly less than that of the holder hole2| and parallel flat sides I8 spaced apart a distance slightly less than the width of the holder slot 22. Opposite ends of the pin project through holes of complemental cross section in the handle side walls near one end of the latter, the pin ends being expanded or peened" over to fasten the pin and handle together. It will be observed that the sides l8 of'th'e pin exhandle and holder disposed at right angles to each other as shown in Fig. 3, the pin [8 will enter the slots 22 and become seated in the holes 2| as the two parts are moved together. Thereupon the parts are pivotally connected and can be swung freely from the open position of Fig. 2 to the closed position of Fig. 1 and vice versa. In both of. these positio'nsth'e pin 18 is disposed with its greater dimension transverse to the ends of the slots 22 so that disengagement of the parts is prevented.

To retain the holder "and handle parts ll l2 against inadvertent disengagement even when in their right angle position, and especially when passing through the same, a friction catch arrangement has been provided. For this purpose, a tit 2-4 struck in from the :side wall of the handle l2 rides in a slot 25 in one of the end portions 20 of'the holder H while the parts are swinging through their 90 degree position. projection is also adapted to enter holes 26 in the holder end portion and exert a friction detent action for retaining the knife'releasably in its open and closed positions.

In the modified construction of Fig. 7 a very similar arrangement of parts is used except that a block 23, corresponding to the block 23, is fixed permanently in position in the handle 12.

The same reference numerals have been used to designate idehticalparts and, accordingly, their detailed description need not be repeated.

To assemble the knife of Fig. 7 the blade I'D is slipped lengthwise into the holder H where it gripped by the holder edges M. Then, the handle and holder par-ts are arranged at right angles, as shown, and the holder moved downward, so-that its end portions '20 enter the spaces between the sides of the handle and the block 23'; The latter in this case is simply a disk shaped spacer thinner than the space between the handle walls and fixed to the pin l8; As the holder end portions 20 enter between the handle walls and the blade 23 the pin l8 rides up through the slots 22 until it enters the holes .21 whereupon the tit 24' snaps into the recess '25; Thereafter, theknifecan be pulled open or closed in the'usual manner. Whenever the user desires to remove the blade, he has only to turn the parts! I l2 totheir rig-ht angle position and pull them apart, whereupon the blade 'I ll can befree'ly removedtnrough the open end' of' the holder.

lelaim as my invention;

'1..A 'pocketkn-ife having, "in combination, a blade holder and handle parts, each of channel shapeand dimensioned to telescope at their ends, the holder channel being closed atone end and open at the other torceive *a blade slid endwise into it, a block dimensioned to close the This same open end of said holder when positioned between the holder side walls, said holder side walls and said block having registering holes therein and slots of lesser width than the holes extending from the latter to the end of the holder, a flattened pin extending transversely between the handle side walls for holding said block in place in the holder, said pin being dimensioned to slide through said slots into said holes only when said parts are held in a predetermined angular position, and one of said parts having a friction catch projection thereon engageable with a retend transversely of the handle. so that with the cess in the other part when said parts are assembled and in said predetermined angular position to prevent their inadvertent disassembly.

2. A pocketknife having, in combination, a channel shaped blade holder closed at one end and. open at the other to receive a blade inserted endwise therein, said holder having a hole extending transversely of said open end, an open ended slot extending longitudinally of the holder, a handle having one end adapted to telescope with said holder, and a pivot pin extending transversely of and fixed to said handle end and having a diameter less than said hole and greater than the width of said slot, said pin having flattened sides spaced apart less than the width of said slot and disposed transversely of said handle whereby to enter the slot and hole when the holder and handle are moved together while angularly disposed relative to each other, said pin coacting with said slot to maintain the handle and holder pivotally connected in open and closedpositions of the holder.

3. A pocketknife having, in combination, a channel shaped blade holder closed at one end and open at the other to receive a blade inserted endwise therein, said holder having a hole extending transversely of said open end, an open ended slot extending longitudinally of the holder, a channel shaped handle having side walls spaced to receive the; slotted end of said holder, a pivot pin extending transversely of and fixed to one end of said handle and having a diameter less than said hole and greater than the width of said slot, said pin having flattened sides spaced apart less than the width of said slot and disposed transversely of said handle whereby to enter the slot and hole when the holder and handle are moved together while angularly disposed relative to each other, said pin coacting with said slot to maintain the handle and holder,

of the holder, and a block on said pin disposed in the slotted end of said holder and holding a blade against endwise movement in said holder.

4. A pocketknife having, in combination, a blade holder adapted to receive a detachable blade, :said holder having a hole extending transversely of. said open end, an open ended slot communicating with said hole, a handle having 'a pivot extending transversely thereof and having a diameter less than said hole and greater than the width of said slot, said pivot being shaped to enter said slot and hole when the holder and handle are moved together while disposed in one angular position relative to each other and coacting said slot to maintain the blade and holder pivotally connected in other positions of the holder.

5. A pocketk-nife having, in combination, a bladeholder part adapted to "receive and grip a separately formed blade, a handle part, and a non-circular pivot and a .slot on the respective parts coacting to form a connection between the parts permitting of disengagement and separation of the parts in one angular position thereof While maintaining the parts pivotally connected when the blade holder is disposed in open position.

6. A pocketknife having, in combination, a blade, a blade holder having side walls longer than said blade adapted to receive the blade between them with the ends of the walls projecting beyond one end of the blade, a separately formed spacer removably received between said wall ends and constituting an abutment for one end of said blade, a handle having side pieces spaced to receive said blade holder and spacer between them, and a pivot and slot providing a pivotal connection between said side pieces, said wall ends and said spacer to permit of separation of said holder and handle and of said holder and spacer when the holder and handle are disposed in a predetermined angle relation.

7. A pocketknife having, in combination, a blade, 2, blade holder having side walls longer than said blade adapted to receive the blade between them with the ends of the walls projecting beyond one end of the blade, a spacer received between said wall ends and constituting an abutment for one end of said blade, a handle having side pieces spaced to receive said blade holder and spacer between them, and a pivot and slot providing a pivotal connection between said side pieces, said wall ends and said spacer to permit of separation of said holder and handle and of said holder and spacer when the holder and handle are disposed in a predetermined angle relation.

8. A pocketknife having, in combination, a blade, a blade holder having side walls longer than said blade adapted to receive the blade between them with the ends of the walls projecting beyond one end of the blade, a spacer removably received between said wall ends and constituting an abutment for one end of said blade, a handle having side pieces spaced to receive said blade holder between them, and a pivot pin extending between said side pieces at one end thereof, said wall ends and said spacer having slots therein coacting with said pin to provide a pivotal connection between said side pieces, said wall ends and said spacer permitting of separation of said spacer from said holder and of said handle and said holder when the two are disposed in a predetermined angle relation.

9. A pocketknife having, in combination, a blade, a blade holder having side Walls longer than said blade adapted to receive the blade between them with the ends of the walls projecting beyond one "end of the blade, a handle having side pieces spaced to receive said blade holder between them, and a pivot and slot providing a pivotal connection between said side pieces and said wall ends permitting of separation of said holder and handle when the two are disposed in a, predetermined angle relation.

10. A pocketknife having, in combination, a blade, a blade holder having side walls longer than said blade adapted to receive the blade between them with the ends of the walls projecting beyond one end of the blade, a handle having side pieces spaced to receive said wall ends between them, and a pivot forming a rigid connection between said side pieces, said wall ends having formed therein an open slot for receiving said pivot when said holder and handle are in a predetermined angular position and to lock the two together for pivotal movement.

LEON R. McNAMARA. 

